By John Baron
Calls have been made for Leeds City Council to buy the freehold of the Woodhall Lake beauty spot.
The area, known locally as the ‘blue lagoon’, is currently owned by Bradford Council, which is looking to sell the land. Leeds City Council rents the lake and surroundings and maintains it and already owns the former Bradford University Sports Fields, where building work on the Parklife Sports Hub is nearing completion.
Cllr Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said: “Leeds City Council must, in my view, enter into talks with Bradford to purchase the freehold.
“It would make absolute sense for both parties. Besides, Leeds City Council – in my view – owe the people of Pudsey. Let’s face it they have recently asset stripped our area for the sale of Pudsey Town Hall and the sale of the purpose-built Calverley Library. I am calling on Leeds City Council to talk to Bradford immediately about the purchase of the freehold. Surely, they owe that to our local area.
“When I negotiated with Leeds City Council back in 2011, along with then Cllr Amanda Carter and the late Cllr Rod Wood, to purchase the playing fields from Bradford University, this was always the sensible next step.
“It’s taken so long for the Football Foundation Trust proposals to move forward, we’re looking back almost 15 years. I’m pleased that scheme is now nearing completion. It’s going to be a real asset. The fact that it also will have a car parking area right adjacent to the Blue Lagoon will mean that visitors can park there rather than on Woodhall Lane.”
Councillors Craig Timmins and Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) said: “Woodhall Lake and the surrounding area is an incredibly important green space, and we are determined that it will remain that way. We have been fighting for this for a considerable amount of time.
“All local councillors were informed by Bradford Council of their intention to sell the Woodhall Lake and surrounding land on 20 May 2025.
“We immediately informed the Head of Leeds CC asset management about this and called on the council to purchase the land. We cited the importance of this land and that it should be protected as a green space and cited the Net Biodiversity Gain potential for the council. We have been working on this ever since and officers have assured us they will keep us updated on the progress.
“Since this time, we have also raised concerns regarding the quality of water of Woodhall Lake, which is an historical issue due to old drainage issues. We have liaised with developers of the new Football Foundation site on Woodhall Playing Fields who have been proactively working to improve this. Part of the design of the scheme is to get more water flowing through the lake in a bid to improve the quality of the water over time, but in a controlled way, to ensure that they do not cause downstream flooding.
“We have a pre-planned meeting coming up with technical officers from the parks team at Woodhall Lake to discuss the potential of this area and how we can make it a place for even more local residents to be able to enjoy. We also have plans to facilitate the setting up of a resident led Friends of Woodhall Lake Group, an idea that has received a lot of positive feedback.
“We are happy to work with anyone on this, who has an interest in the preservation and improvement of the area.”
In a statement issued to WLD this week, Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “Leeds City Council has received preliminary notification of the proposal by Bradford Council to dispose of the freehold of the Woodhall Lake, Blue Lagoon site. Details have yet to be shared and considered.”
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